Fixture for tubular lamps



A ril 30, 1946. w. R. YOUNG FIXTURE FOR TUBULAR LAMPS Ffiled Aug. 23, 1945 i W. t t M Y ID Patented Apr. 30, 1946 I FIXTURE FOR TUBULAR LAMPS William R. Young, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 23, 1943, Serial No. 499,634

1 Claim. The present invention relates to fixtures for tubular lamps having a tubular envelope with contact means at the end or ends for conducting current thereto. The invention is of particular interest in connection with fluorescent lamps having two spaced prongs at each end and requiring special starting means although it is not necessarily limited thereto.

The object of my invention is to provide lamp fixtures of the type above specified which are simple in construction, easy to assemble and dismantle and which may be produced at relatively low cost.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claim appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a part of a fixture embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a back view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain parts of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an assembly view of a fixture with tubular lamps; Fig. 5 is a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section alon line t-t of Fig, 5; and Fig. 7 is a modification of a part of Fig; 5.

The fixtures shown in the drawing are especially adapted for assembly with fluorescent lamps, each having two prongs at each end for engaging a lamp holder and each lamp requiring a starter socket and a starter together with ballast means for starting the lamp during operation. Broadly, a fixture according to my invention includes tubular supporting means, preferably in the form of a metal tube, and a pair of parallel channels secured to spaced portions of such metal tube for receiving lamp sockets and starter sockets to support and operate a lamp or lamps on the fixture. The arrangement in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a tube l and two like channels ll, I2 suitably secured in spaced parallel relationship to the ends of the tube H0. The channels may be made of channel stock or formed sheet metal. A central portion of each channel is secured to an end of the tube ill. Each channel carries two lamp sockets l3, 14 of standard construction and a starter socket l5, likewise of standard design. The starter socket I is closely spaced with the tube it and fastened to the channel H by means of hollow rivets l6.

Each lamp socket l3, I4 is adjustably sup-ported on the channel II. To this end each socket is secured to a mounting plate I! engaging the back oi the socket by,means of hollow rivets I8. The

mounting plate has a lateral projection or ear l9 and two parallel projections or strips 28 (Fig. 3) lanced out from a central portion of the mounting plate. The front wall of the channels ll, it has rectangular openings ii for receiving and guiding the projections 20 of the mounting plates. The mounting plates are secured in position on the channels by means of a screw 22 projecting through an opening 23 of the ear i9 and. threaded into a tapped plate 2c engaging the back of the front Wall of the channel. The tapped plate il l' has a rectangular projection it slidably extending into the space formed between the projections 20 of the mounting plate ill. The channels M, It and the tube it provide wiring space for the conductors or wires connecting the lamp holders and the starter socket into an electric circuit by means of wires 2% (Fig, 2). The back of each channel may be closed by a sheet N (Fig. 4) held in place by small, sheared lancings M, In Fig. 4 the fixture is assembled with two lamps '29, 30, a starter at for the lamp 29, a starter 32 for the lamp 3t and a ballast 33 for both lamps. The ballast is suitably fastened to a central portion of the metal tube it. The tube ill serves as a raceway for the wires 26, as shown in Fig. 2. Some of these wires are connected in known manner to the ballast 33 through an opening til in the tube it. Further details of the electric circuit are not described because such circuits are well known and do not form a part of my inventiion.

Thus, a fixture according to my invention as described above is very simple in construction, consisting of a metal tube and two like channel members with sockets mounted thereon and secured to the ends of the tube. The fixture may be easily assembled by the customer. This permits shipping with the several parts dismantled, thus reducing greatly the necessary shipping space. The adjustability of the lamp sockets I3, Id on the channels ll, l2 permits the use oi?v a standard reflector for diirerent ceiling heights and different areas to be illuminated. In order to adjust a lamp on the fixture, all that is necessary is to loosen the screws 22 and slide the respective lamp holders along the openings H in the channels until the desired position of the lamp is reached whereupon the lamp holders may be fixed by retightening of the screws 22.

Whereas in the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 4 the lamp holders may be adjusted and moved into any position within the range of the openings 2|, the arrangement shown in Figs. 5, 6 permits movement of the lamp holders into several fixed positions. The fixture of Figs. 6 and 8 comprises a light, metal tube 40 with like channels 4| for attachment to the ends of the tube 40, The attaching means in the present example includes tour anguiarly spaced openings 42 in the central portion of the channel 4| for receiving tour tabs 43 formed at the end of the tube 40. These tabs are inserted into the openings 42 and subsequently bent, thus rigidly securing the channel 4| to the tube 40 and definitely locating the two relative to each other. A central opening 44 in the channel forms a passageway for wires extending from the channel 4| into the tube 40. A starter socket 46 corresponding to the socket 15 in Fig. 1 is securel fastened to the channel in close proximity to the tube 40 by means of hollow rivets. Two lamp sockets 41, 48 are attached to opposite ends of the channel 4|. Each lamp holder is held on the channel 4| by means of two hollow rivets 48 which have rear heads 50 (Fig. 6) located in back or the channel. The rivets 49 project slidably through parallel slots permitting adjustment oi! the lamp holder by sliding it along the channel 4| and acting as guide means in place of the projections 20 and 25 in Figs. 1 to 3. An intermediate slot 52 between the slots BI is provided to facilitate movement of wires when connected to the holder 41 upon movement of the latter. Each lamp socket 41, 48 may be moved into any position within the range of the slots 5|, 52. Three positions, however, are fixed, an intermediate, an inner, and an outer position. This is accomplished by providing a portion of the channel 4| with three indentations 53 on top and bottom for each lamp socket cooperatively associated with spring fingers 64 secured to the lamp socket. In the present example the spring finger 54 has an end portion connected to one of the rivets 49 and another end portion biased into one of the indentations 53. In Fig. 5 the lamp sockets are in an intermediate position. If it is desired to illuminate a larger area, the sockets are moved outward, that is, towards the ends of the channel 4| until the spring fingers 54 drop into their respective indentations 53.

assassi The arrangement of Fig. '1 includes a channel 86 corresponding to the channel 4| of Fig. 5. Top and bottom portions of the channel are provided'with spaced perforations B1. A socket 58 is mounted on the channel by means including a back plate 59 and spacing fingers 40. The socket is attached to the back plate by means of rivets 8|. The rivets 8| like the rivets It in Fig. 1 do not project through the wall of the channel as in the arrangement of Fig. 5. Each spring finger 60 has a bent or hooked portion 82 engaging the rear edge of the channel and a projection 63 for extending into one of the perforatlons 81. Thus, the spring fingers with theperforations B1 serve positively to position the socket and to support it on the channel. A slot 84 in the channel 58 serves to accommodate wiring when attached to the rear of the socket in the several positions of the lamp. When it is desired to change the position or the lamp, all that is necessary is to push the sockets connected to the lamp along the respective slots 64.

Having described the method of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now believe to represent the best eembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a fixture for tubular lamps, the combination of a channel having a slot, a lamp socket and means adjustably supporting the lamp socket on the channel comprising a mounting plate attached to the back of the lamp socket and forming two projections located in the slot, an ear on the mounting plate located in front of the slot and a tapped plate located in back of the slot, and having a projection guided between the first mentioned projections and means projecting through the ear and engaging said tapped p ate.

WILLIAM YOUNG. 

